The Crucible Curse?

[RocketBabe]

In the opinions of The Snooker Forum members can you see Graeme Dott regaining the world championship next year or will he be yet another name struck by "The Crucible Curse?"

On the topic of "The Crucible Curse" too, do you think it is just a bizarre twist of fate that no first-time champion has ever successfully defended his title there the following year, hence the "curse". Or is it just a case of nerves and that is the non-spooky reason on why no world champion since 1977 has ever regained the trophy.

Your thoughts please.

[Cessy143]

Yeh this so called 'Curse' is quite strange and it's a mystery as to why no-one has managed to defend the title after winning it for the first time. Of course Davis and Hendry have managed to successfully defend the title on a few occasions.

Suppose there are a number of factors to be taken into account, ie number of top players capable of winning the title (more so today, than in the 70's/80's), and luck also plays a huge part.

A few players have come really close (winning title and reaching final following year). Johnson and Doherty spring to mind.

Personally, the year I thought this curse was going to be outdone was 1991. Having won the title in 1990, Hendry looked almost unstoppable in his quest for a 2nd title. But look what happened, he came up against an 'inspired' Steve James in the semi final.

And poor Jimmy still did'nt manage to win it

[April madness]

Cessy, if suddenly Jimmy manages to win it, I think he could be the first one to break the Curse
Look at it from the bright side

[austrian_girl]

LOL, April.

I agree. I think it would have been Jimmy's destiny to break the curse, but... as he never won the title once... he wasn't able to successfully defend it .

[The Statman]

There is a freakily similar thread on the BBC forum, and there is no absolute answer.

There are certainly more players capable of winning the world title than there were 20 years ago – so I guess that makes it less likely that the same player will win twice.

However, someone has surely got to do it eventually!

A little more info on the 'curse' (which I have referred to as 'jinx' for some reason) will be found here:

http://www.thesnookerforum.com/showthread-t_1208.html

[PaulTheSoave]

If Paul Hunter is going to recover, hes the one to end the Crucible Curse!

[hegeland]

If the Grame Dott regains the world title, I'll eat my hat!

(Please do not bookmark this page!)

[PaulTheSoave]

uhmmmm!

What are the odds on it?

[..KiD DyNaMiTe..]

Graeme Dott is underated but I dont think he can do it noT because of the curse simply because he's bot good enough. It'll be funny if Jimmy done it this and next year

[Black_cat]

I have witnesses.
If Graeme Dott defends his title in 2007 I will do the following: stop being a Ronnette , give up smoking and start listening to c***py music.
So there!

[..KiD DyNaMiTe..]

No one has faith in him do they

[Cessy143]

Graeme Dott is underated but I dont think he can do it noT because of the curse simply because he's bot good enough. It'll be funny if Jimmy done it this and next year

Funny ??!! It would be absolutely fan daby dozy, biggest party of all parties. I'd still be out celebrating when the following years WC came round

[..KiD DyNaMiTe..]

Funny ??!! It would be absolutely fan daby dozy, biggest party of all parties. I'd still be out celebrating when the following years WC came round

I think every snooker fan would. Even the players even the commentators and even the old boys

[Obligation]

It's all psychological..

[chasmmi]

Surely part of the reason is because it is hard to be a defending champion.

You have the longest tournament as you have to play on the first and last day.

Every match you play will be televised and watched by a large audience.

Everyone wants to beat you.

If you exclude the two greatest players in history nobody has ever retained the title full stop. It's got nothing to do with it being first time nerves in my opinion.

Saying that though Ding may have a good shout of pulling off this feat. Once he gets one title there may be no stopping him.

Out of interest what are the records of first time winners in the other events?

How often does a first time winner retain a tournament full stop?